Students of the Department of Psychology participated in an art therapy project for children

For two years, the Department of Psychology of the Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic National University has been actively involved in the implementation of the art therapy project «Art Helps» by the Children’s Friends Foundation (https://www.facebook.com/pryyateliditey) with the sponsorship of the UCARE, Inc. Charity Organization (https://www.facebook.com/groups/UCAREInc). The project involved holding group art therapy classes in several cities for children who suffered from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In Zaporizhzhia, the psychologists of the project «Art Helps» were initially students of the Department of Psychology Kateryna Filonenko and Sofiia Cherednychenko (CH-113m), and since March of this year – practical psychologist Olena Ganotska and 3rd year student Kateryna Lashchenko (CH-112). Methodological support for the project participants was provided by Associate Professor of the Department of Psychology Tetyana Borodulkina.

The main program of the project was implemented on the basis of the Zaporizhzhia Specialized Boarding School of II–III Degrees «Sichovyi Collegium», where in the spring psychologists Olena Ganotska and Kateryna Lashchenko conducted a series of art therapy classes for students of grades 9–B.

During the classes, participants performed the following creative tasks:
— exploring emotions through colors and creativity
— creating their own talisman of strength
— drawing their inner state with coffee
— composing a collective fairy tale and searching for symbols of support
— working on the topic of self-identification through creative portraits

The meetings were aimed at creating a safe creative space for self-expression, support and personal growth of students. Through games, creative tasks and reflections, students learned to better understand themselves, their emotions and resources. Creativity helped students find answers to important questions, feel supported and realize their strengths.

The Department of Psychology was pleased to join the implementation of a socially important and psychologically useful initiative. The Zaporizhzhia project team expresses its gratitude to the president of the Children’s Friends Foundation, Maryna Krysa, the project coordinators from the Children’s Friends Foundation, the sponsors from the UCARE, Inc. Charity Organization, the director of the Zaporizhzhia Specialized Boarding School of II–III Degrees «Sichovy Collegium» Valentyna Yershova, and the teaching staff of the college for fruitful cooperation.

Working together – developing together!